"Love God, and do what you want."
~Augustine
Sure, it seems at first glance like a license to do whatever the heck you want. But think about it. Don't just read it. Digest it. It's pretty amazing.
5/28/08
5/27/08
Jackasses like you and me. 5-26-08
Have you ever been at the point in your life when you are so completely floored by God's blessings and at the same time been totally overwhelmed by your devastating unworthiness to receive them? I'm there.
When was the last time you just concentrated on the good things in your life? If you're struggling to think of any, get over yourself. For starters, you're reading this on a computer, and I might venture one that's sitting in your lap. I'd say that's a pretty good thing. Secondly, you can read. Hopefully. I wouldn't want you to just be staring at this. Education? A blessing. You know what reading this page takes? Eyesight. Check? Good, some people don't have that. This could go on and on, this chain reaction of blessing in your life and mine. Now, it's easy to be happy about these things, but should that be our only response? I submit that it should not. With great blessing comes great responsibility. Jesus said, "and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked." Well, we have already decided that all of us have been given an awful lot, so what would you call "much more" than an awful lot? A ton? It matters not. The thing is that we can't just sit on a pile of wealth and do nothing with it. The issue is not salvation, it's sanctification--or working toward the goal that Christ set.
Just as a reminder to all of us. The wealth that Jesus had was that He lived in Heaven, and then gave that up to be born in a feed trough used by cows. And then died willingly for jackasses like you and me. Jackass is another term for a donkey, which is a very stubborn animal. But before I become flippant, I want to get this across. He gave up more, immeasurably more, in His first breath as a human, than we could give up in all of mortal human life combined. Let that sink in just a sec. Without the value that He so graciously offers to give our lives, we have less worth and less to offer than the oxygen that the infant Jesus took into those tiny lungs of His over two thousand years ago. Our sins put Him to death. Our sins mock His name. And yet He still offers the gift. How amazing is that? That is the biggest blessing of all. Is it one of yours?
When was the last time you just concentrated on the good things in your life? If you're struggling to think of any, get over yourself. For starters, you're reading this on a computer, and I might venture one that's sitting in your lap. I'd say that's a pretty good thing. Secondly, you can read. Hopefully. I wouldn't want you to just be staring at this. Education? A blessing. You know what reading this page takes? Eyesight. Check? Good, some people don't have that. This could go on and on, this chain reaction of blessing in your life and mine. Now, it's easy to be happy about these things, but should that be our only response? I submit that it should not. With great blessing comes great responsibility. Jesus said, "and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked." Well, we have already decided that all of us have been given an awful lot, so what would you call "much more" than an awful lot? A ton? It matters not. The thing is that we can't just sit on a pile of wealth and do nothing with it. The issue is not salvation, it's sanctification--or working toward the goal that Christ set.
Just as a reminder to all of us. The wealth that Jesus had was that He lived in Heaven, and then gave that up to be born in a feed trough used by cows. And then died willingly for jackasses like you and me. Jackass is another term for a donkey, which is a very stubborn animal. But before I become flippant, I want to get this across. He gave up more, immeasurably more, in His first breath as a human, than we could give up in all of mortal human life combined. Let that sink in just a sec. Without the value that He so graciously offers to give our lives, we have less worth and less to offer than the oxygen that the infant Jesus took into those tiny lungs of His over two thousand years ago. Our sins put Him to death. Our sins mock His name. And yet He still offers the gift. How amazing is that? That is the biggest blessing of all. Is it one of yours?
5/22/08
Lessons from Hitler and Korver--5/22/08
"'God opposes the proud
but gives grace to the humble.'
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you."
-1 Peter 5:5-7
Honestly, pride is something I have always struggled with and continue to struggle with. And the worst thing is, pride is never just pride. Pride just grows and grows and multiplies itself into hatred and dishonesty and mistrust and hypocrisy and a host of other sins. Why? Because the problem with pride is that the person who has it begins to think that they are the source of good things in life, and other people and circumstances are the source of bad things. That mindset is just a breeding ground for everything else. Hitler is a prime example (I am too, but we'll get to that). As World War II progressed and Germany was dominating, Hitler was feeling quite confident. However, his pride led to a paranoia of managing the whole war himself. He was sure his generals were inept and trying to kill him. And so he had them killed. Of course this was a terrible strategy and ultimately led to his downfall (along with other things, but this is not a history lesson.) Do you see the logical progression of erosion? First of all, pride hits hardest when things are going well. Second, pride hurts our relationships. Lastly, "Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall." Hitler wasn't immune to it, neither are you. And neither am I.
My senior year in high school is a prime example. I was coming off a good summer playing AAU basketball, and I was first in my class academically coming into the fall semester. I was feeling good about myself. Then to start off the year, I get an email from the head guru lady of the schools in our county saying I had received some county-wide achievement award. I'm grateful I received it, but looking back, it was just adding fuel to the fire. The first step of regression had started. Things were going well, and I thought it was all due to my own abilities and talents. Step Two didn't skip me either. It hit me full on, and the relationship that was most strained was the one with my younger sister. I just treated her terribly really the whole year, and it was completely unmerited. The fall came the last half of basketball season, which was the most disappointing half of a season I'd ever had. It affected me a great deal. I was angry with my coaches, I was blaming everything on others. Ultimately, I stopped caring much about spending time with my Redeemer as I once had. It was a fall. But herein lies the beauty of the Bible and the God who inspired it. It doesn't stop after pride takes you down. It offers rescue. Look at it, "Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time." There it is. I can tell you from experience that it works. I promise I didn't do it perfectly, but I realized that I had been sinning against others and against God, and I just confessed that to Him, asking for a spirit of humility. It was hard having to learn that lesson, but rest of my senior year was infinitely better. Do I still struggle with pride? Sure. Every day. But I'm learning.
There is one last part to that passage that Peter writes that jumped out at me today that I hadn't thought about before. He talks about humility and God lifting us up in due time, and the very next sentence says this, "Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you." What does that have to do with humility and God lifting us up? Here's what I think he's saying. Humility isn't easy. When you're a humble person, especially in the America we live in, you will take a lot of flack. It may mean not getting a promotion because you don't go tooting your own horn all the time, and instead just quietly get the job done. Or it may mean letting others get glory for something you contributed most to. Sometimes it can mean dealing with stressful financial situations because you are faithful to give 30% of your paycheck back to God, no matter what's going on in your life. Here's my point: humility as a lifestyle choice is not going to be an easy road. There will be anxieties, and when we have them, we don't have to carry them on our own. We serve a God who will take those worries upon His infinite shoulders. We serve a God who cares for us. He will not make us go it alone.
but gives grace to the humble.'
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you."
-1 Peter 5:5-7
Honestly, pride is something I have always struggled with and continue to struggle with. And the worst thing is, pride is never just pride. Pride just grows and grows and multiplies itself into hatred and dishonesty and mistrust and hypocrisy and a host of other sins. Why? Because the problem with pride is that the person who has it begins to think that they are the source of good things in life, and other people and circumstances are the source of bad things. That mindset is just a breeding ground for everything else. Hitler is a prime example (I am too, but we'll get to that). As World War II progressed and Germany was dominating, Hitler was feeling quite confident. However, his pride led to a paranoia of managing the whole war himself. He was sure his generals were inept and trying to kill him. And so he had them killed. Of course this was a terrible strategy and ultimately led to his downfall (along with other things, but this is not a history lesson.) Do you see the logical progression of erosion? First of all, pride hits hardest when things are going well. Second, pride hurts our relationships. Lastly, "Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall." Hitler wasn't immune to it, neither are you. And neither am I.
My senior year in high school is a prime example. I was coming off a good summer playing AAU basketball, and I was first in my class academically coming into the fall semester. I was feeling good about myself. Then to start off the year, I get an email from the head guru lady of the schools in our county saying I had received some county-wide achievement award. I'm grateful I received it, but looking back, it was just adding fuel to the fire. The first step of regression had started. Things were going well, and I thought it was all due to my own abilities and talents. Step Two didn't skip me either. It hit me full on, and the relationship that was most strained was the one with my younger sister. I just treated her terribly really the whole year, and it was completely unmerited. The fall came the last half of basketball season, which was the most disappointing half of a season I'd ever had. It affected me a great deal. I was angry with my coaches, I was blaming everything on others. Ultimately, I stopped caring much about spending time with my Redeemer as I once had. It was a fall. But herein lies the beauty of the Bible and the God who inspired it. It doesn't stop after pride takes you down. It offers rescue. Look at it, "Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time." There it is. I can tell you from experience that it works. I promise I didn't do it perfectly, but I realized that I had been sinning against others and against God, and I just confessed that to Him, asking for a spirit of humility. It was hard having to learn that lesson, but rest of my senior year was infinitely better. Do I still struggle with pride? Sure. Every day. But I'm learning.
There is one last part to that passage that Peter writes that jumped out at me today that I hadn't thought about before. He talks about humility and God lifting us up in due time, and the very next sentence says this, "Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you." What does that have to do with humility and God lifting us up? Here's what I think he's saying. Humility isn't easy. When you're a humble person, especially in the America we live in, you will take a lot of flack. It may mean not getting a promotion because you don't go tooting your own horn all the time, and instead just quietly get the job done. Or it may mean letting others get glory for something you contributed most to. Sometimes it can mean dealing with stressful financial situations because you are faithful to give 30% of your paycheck back to God, no matter what's going on in your life. Here's my point: humility as a lifestyle choice is not going to be an easy road. There will be anxieties, and when we have them, we don't have to carry them on our own. We serve a God who will take those worries upon His infinite shoulders. We serve a God who cares for us. He will not make us go it alone.
5/18/08
Laminin
I bought a new book today, a New York Times' best-seller titled, What's So Great About Christianity?, and authored by Dinesh D'souza. I haven't gotten very far into it, but it's a very compelling read to say the least. It matters not your beliefs or lack thereof, you should read it if you get the chance.
However, before you do anything else you need to watch this video of Louie Giglio, talking about a protein known as Laminin: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_e4zgJXPpI4
I'll be honest with you, I couldn't get through that without some tears and shivers of just incredulous awe of God. It amazes me that we are fearfully and wonderfully made by the Creator of the vast universe we live in, and not only that, but that He has chosen to have an intense interest in each and every one of our lives. He has offered forgiveness to us when we did not, and never will, deserve it; He has given us new mercies every morning, just as we complain and whine about the day before it even starts; and His son Jesus holds everything in this universe, including our own bodies, together in Himself. He wants to have a relationship with you personally. He loves every single part of you and me, the ugly and disdainful and the rotten, so much so that He offers unconditional free pardon, amnesty, and redemption to us. All He asks of us is a simple belief that His death and subsequent resurrection is all that we need to spend eternity in the Kingdom of Heaven. That's all. No turning your life around first, no going to the priest or pastor to ask forgiveness, no favorable balance of right and wrong in your life. None of that is required. Only a true belief in a Person and what He did. I can tell you my life since i made that decision has not been easy, but I now have a freedom and confidence that never was present before. I now have something to wake up for in the morning. I have deep joy. I have meaning. I am only lost when I lose myself. I am only found when I call for Him.
"He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. And He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything He might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross."
Colossians 1:15-20
5/17/08
The Beautiful Letdown
I love Switchfoot's older stuff up through their fourth album, The Beautiful Letdown, which contains the following song sharing the same title. I think Jon Foreman is one of the best lyricists out there, and I've always thought these lyrics in particular were just full of gold. If you hate the music of Switchfoot, I'm sorry, but maybe just try to enjoy the words and humor me?
It was a beautiful letdown
When I crashed and burned
When I found myself alone, unknown and hurt
It was a beautiful letdown
The day I knew,
That all the riches this world had to offer me will never do.
In a world full of bitter pain,
and bitter doubts,
I was trying so hard to fit in,
Fit in, until I found out
I don't belong here
I don't belong here
I will carry a cross and a song
Where I don't belong
I don't belong
It was a beautiful letdown
When you found me here
Yeah, for once in a rare blue moon
I see everything clear
I'll be a beautiful letdown
That's what I'll forever be
And though it may cost my soul
I'll sing for free
We're still chasing our tails
In the rising sun
In our dark water planet still spinning
In a direction no one wins
No one's won.
I'm gonna set side
And set sail
For the kingdom come, kingdom come
Your kingdom come
Won't you let me down, yeah
Let my foolish pride forever let me down
Ah, Easy living, you're not much like the name
Easy dying, you look just about the same
Would you please take me off your list
Easy living please c'mon and let me down
We are a beautiful letdown
Painfully uncool
The church of the dropouts
The losers, the sinners, the failures, and the fools
What a beautiful letdown
Are we salt in the wound
Hey, let us sing one true tune
It was a beautiful letdown
When I crashed and burned
When I found myself alone, unknown and hurt
It was a beautiful letdown
The day I knew,
That all the riches this world had to offer me will never do.
In a world full of bitter pain,
and bitter doubts,
I was trying so hard to fit in,
Fit in, until I found out
I don't belong here
I don't belong here
I will carry a cross and a song
Where I don't belong
I don't belong
It was a beautiful letdown
When you found me here
Yeah, for once in a rare blue moon
I see everything clear
I'll be a beautiful letdown
That's what I'll forever be
And though it may cost my soul
I'll sing for free
We're still chasing our tails
In the rising sun
In our dark water planet still spinning
In a direction no one wins
No one's won.
I'm gonna set side
And set sail
For the kingdom come, kingdom come
Your kingdom come
Won't you let me down, yeah
Let my foolish pride forever let me down
Ah, Easy living, you're not much like the name
Easy dying, you look just about the same
Would you please take me off your list
Easy living please c'mon and let me down
We are a beautiful letdown
Painfully uncool
The church of the dropouts
The losers, the sinners, the failures, and the fools
What a beautiful letdown
Are we salt in the wound
Hey, let us sing one true tune
5/16/08
Mind Games
Why do we as Christians know relatively nothing about what we believe in? We know everything there is to know about Duke or Carolina basketball, or Alabama football, or how great Coldplay's new song is, or the latest fads of the day, and the list continues grossly on. But are we really intellectually sure about the core beliefs that we say we have? I can guarantee that our generation is the generation whose mind has been attacked and assaulted more than that of any other, but I can also guarantee that we have done the worst job of any other generation in being prepared for such an onslaught. It's because everything is right at our fingertips. Technology, as great as it is, has become a crutch of cheap, adulterated information. Do you want to know what it's culminated into? A lack of reading.
Reading, Korver? What in the world are you harping about now? Just keep reading. Yes I intended that pun. This has become at least an American tragedy, but I'd also tend to think it's become worldwide. However, while that's true, I'd like to write specifically to Christians at this point. Christians, we need to use our God-given brains. Be educated and make a concerted effort to know that which you believe. We are so clueless right now that we think reading the Bible for five minutes a day will suffice, or maybe five minutes thrice weekly. Are you kidding me? I'm sorry, but why in the world would you change your life (or claim to) for something you got out of a book that you only read 15 minutes a week (and listening to a sermon every other week doesn't count as reading). For crying out loud, my mom reads a cookbook more than that, and I sure don't see her revolutionizing her life because of the latest broccoli and cheese soup recipe. As I said, we have huge need for our minds, and yet we have not exercised them enough to be ready. They have atrophied to the point of disintegration. I'm going to call a spade a spade. It's sin. 1 Peter 1:13 says, "Therefore, prepare your minds for action." Peter says "therefore" because he's just been discussing the fact that we have no earthly idea when Christ is returning. In light of that, we need to always be ready, using our--get ready for it--our minds. We read "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength" and tend to leave the mind just sitting there, doing nothing with it. Why? Why is it that the brain gets left in the dust? Are we afraid that our minds will tell us some truth that will disorient our foolish ideas of entitlement to comfort and happiness? Are we afraid that our minds will overrule our baseless feelings? Whatever it is, we need to get over it. From the verse above, it appears that we must if we are to truly love the Father. And that makes perfect sense. How can you love someone whom you know nothing about? You don't know his/her characteristics and attributes, what they've done in the past, what they said their future plans were, etc., but you say "Oh, but my heart tells me this!" Rubbish. In the same way, if you go through life trying to love Jesus based on the feelings of your heart and the longings of your soul, there will be a point in time when that "love" is no longer there. It's because we haven't kept reading the verse. We must.
You still haven't explained yourself on reading, Korver. I shall do just that. We must read if we ever hope to be an educated people of God. Oh, you don't like to read? Learn to. I hate to break it to some of you, but listening to "Christian" music (or any other kind of music) is not enough. Not nearly. But I must clarify. We need not be reading just for reading's sake. I can read all the Redwall novels I want, all the Grisham novels I want, I can read LOTR all day, every day and none of that is going to prepare my mind for action. First of all, we must read the Book that our faith rests solely in. The Bible. You and I need to read it every day, and whether it's one chapter or ten is not the key issue. What matters is that we think and pray about what it is that we are reading, so that our minds get a workout. Second, once the first is a habit, we must find other sources that are sound theologically (i.e. they match what the Bible says at face value) to further explain what it is we've read between Genesis and Revelation. Randy Alcorn, Chuck Swindoll, Andy Stanley, Ravi Zacharias, Tony Evans, and many other authors would fit into this category. I don't even have a third step for you. It's that easy, two simple steps. If you feel that I'm being dogmatic, you're probably right, but I'm not making this stuff up. As you've seen, it's in the Bible. That said, everything I've written applies just as much to me as it does to anyone who may read this. I have let my mind become a lard, too.
Again, I cannot stress how important it is for us to put aside the meaningless things that we do and make time for mind exercise, for reading and thinking and praying. Let's cut down on wasted time and insert reading into our daily lives. We must push ourselves forward or the world will push us over.
Reading, Korver? What in the world are you harping about now? Just keep reading. Yes I intended that pun. This has become at least an American tragedy, but I'd also tend to think it's become worldwide. However, while that's true, I'd like to write specifically to Christians at this point. Christians, we need to use our God-given brains. Be educated and make a concerted effort to know that which you believe. We are so clueless right now that we think reading the Bible for five minutes a day will suffice, or maybe five minutes thrice weekly. Are you kidding me? I'm sorry, but why in the world would you change your life (or claim to) for something you got out of a book that you only read 15 minutes a week (and listening to a sermon every other week doesn't count as reading). For crying out loud, my mom reads a cookbook more than that, and I sure don't see her revolutionizing her life because of the latest broccoli and cheese soup recipe. As I said, we have huge need for our minds, and yet we have not exercised them enough to be ready. They have atrophied to the point of disintegration. I'm going to call a spade a spade. It's sin. 1 Peter 1:13 says, "Therefore, prepare your minds for action." Peter says "therefore" because he's just been discussing the fact that we have no earthly idea when Christ is returning. In light of that, we need to always be ready, using our--get ready for it--our minds. We read "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength" and tend to leave the mind just sitting there, doing nothing with it. Why? Why is it that the brain gets left in the dust? Are we afraid that our minds will tell us some truth that will disorient our foolish ideas of entitlement to comfort and happiness? Are we afraid that our minds will overrule our baseless feelings? Whatever it is, we need to get over it. From the verse above, it appears that we must if we are to truly love the Father. And that makes perfect sense. How can you love someone whom you know nothing about? You don't know his/her characteristics and attributes, what they've done in the past, what they said their future plans were, etc., but you say "Oh, but my heart tells me this!" Rubbish. In the same way, if you go through life trying to love Jesus based on the feelings of your heart and the longings of your soul, there will be a point in time when that "love" is no longer there. It's because we haven't kept reading the verse. We must.
You still haven't explained yourself on reading, Korver. I shall do just that. We must read if we ever hope to be an educated people of God. Oh, you don't like to read? Learn to. I hate to break it to some of you, but listening to "Christian" music (or any other kind of music) is not enough. Not nearly. But I must clarify. We need not be reading just for reading's sake. I can read all the Redwall novels I want, all the Grisham novels I want, I can read LOTR all day, every day and none of that is going to prepare my mind for action. First of all, we must read the Book that our faith rests solely in. The Bible. You and I need to read it every day, and whether it's one chapter or ten is not the key issue. What matters is that we think and pray about what it is that we are reading, so that our minds get a workout. Second, once the first is a habit, we must find other sources that are sound theologically (i.e. they match what the Bible says at face value) to further explain what it is we've read between Genesis and Revelation. Randy Alcorn, Chuck Swindoll, Andy Stanley, Ravi Zacharias, Tony Evans, and many other authors would fit into this category. I don't even have a third step for you. It's that easy, two simple steps. If you feel that I'm being dogmatic, you're probably right, but I'm not making this stuff up. As you've seen, it's in the Bible. That said, everything I've written applies just as much to me as it does to anyone who may read this. I have let my mind become a lard, too.
Again, I cannot stress how important it is for us to put aside the meaningless things that we do and make time for mind exercise, for reading and thinking and praying. Let's cut down on wasted time and insert reading into our daily lives. We must push ourselves forward or the world will push us over.
5/15/08
Which way?
"As for God, His way is perfect."
~Psalm 18:30
I don't know what you want to do with that, but I'd suggest you do something with it. If by chance you find another way that's perfect, then of course by all means disregard the above and follow another way. Let me know how that's working out for you.
just so you know, it hasn't worked for me. and going all the way back to Eve and Adam, "another way" just hasn't won many victories. none, in fact.
www.epm.org is a great website run by a wonderful author named Randy Alcorn. There are tons of great articles and links for anyone interested in actually maturing as a Christian.
Hey get pumped for Prince Caspian. i can't wait to see it. as a challenge to everyone, especially those searching for truth, go read anything you can find by C.S. Lewis. Mere Christianity
would be a great place to start.
~Psalm 18:30
I don't know what you want to do with that, but I'd suggest you do something with it. If by chance you find another way that's perfect, then of course by all means disregard the above and follow another way. Let me know how that's working out for you.
just so you know, it hasn't worked for me. and going all the way back to Eve and Adam, "another way" just hasn't won many victories. none, in fact.
www.epm.org is a great website run by a wonderful author named Randy Alcorn. There are tons of great articles and links for anyone interested in actually maturing as a Christian.
Hey get pumped for Prince Caspian. i can't wait to see it. as a challenge to everyone, especially those searching for truth, go read anything you can find by C.S. Lewis. Mere Christianity
would be a great place to start.
5/14/08
"I'll hold up a mirror."
"I do not exist," we faithfully insist,
While watching sink the heavy ship with everything we knew.
And if ever You come near, I'll hold up high a mirror.
Lord, I could never show you anything as beautiful as You!
~mewithoutYou, Messes of Men
What a great lyric, to be sure. The first time I read it, I thought that, "And if ever you come near" should be changed to, "Whenever you come near." But, the more I thought about it, the more I realized that this is exactly right. Look at this, "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned." (John 15:5,6). First of all, this is not talking about whether you're going to Heaven or Hell, because Jesus is talking to His disciples, calling those who've placed their faith in Himself "Branches." But did you see what happens when we choose not to have fellowship with Christ? We are like those branches that fall out during a storm and your dad (or you) brings them out to the street to be picked up by the DOT or whomever. Useless. Fruitless. What I'm saying is that we as Christians have a part to play in our own walk. If we choose to break fellowship with our Redeemer, then he will only come near again "if ever" we realize our wrongs and ask Him to forgive and restore that vertical relationship. If we do not come to that point in our lives, then we are lukewarm, carnal Christians.
Sadly, that's where most Christians are today (and I'm often guilty). We are the worst advocates for the love and grace of Jesus in the world. People are not always turned off by the message of redemption that Jesus offers, but rather by the people who have believed in that message and then refused to carry out their part of the relationship. It doesn't by any means change the fact that they're going to Heaven, but it means that they have placed their own selfish lifestyle ahead of the Life that Jesus gave up for them. He offers relationship. Relationships are contracts of two parties. How much sense does it make to accept the Gift offered by God, and then decide you don't want to carry out your part of the deal? In law, it's called a breach of contract, and it's not legal. Christ offers rescue from the Kingdom of Darkness and transfer to the Kingdom of Light, and we have to do nothing for it. All He asks after that transfer is some commitment on our part. I'd say that it's the very least we owe someone who died in our place. Sometimes, all we can do is hold up a mirror and say, "Lord, I've got nothing to offer you. I'm a poor wretch who succeeds much less than I fail. BUT, I know that You are faithful, just, merciful, true, holy, righteous, omnipotent, omniscient, full of unfailing love, redemptive, glorious, forgiving, and your list of attributes stretches on till infinity. Only when I make an effort to love and cherish the relationship You offer to me will my life make any sense."
While watching sink the heavy ship with everything we knew.
And if ever You come near, I'll hold up high a mirror.
Lord, I could never show you anything as beautiful as You!
~mewithoutYou, Messes of Men
What a great lyric, to be sure. The first time I read it, I thought that, "And if ever you come near" should be changed to, "Whenever you come near." But, the more I thought about it, the more I realized that this is exactly right. Look at this, "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned." (John 15:5,6). First of all, this is not talking about whether you're going to Heaven or Hell, because Jesus is talking to His disciples, calling those who've placed their faith in Himself "Branches." But did you see what happens when we choose not to have fellowship with Christ? We are like those branches that fall out during a storm and your dad (or you) brings them out to the street to be picked up by the DOT or whomever. Useless. Fruitless. What I'm saying is that we as Christians have a part to play in our own walk. If we choose to break fellowship with our Redeemer, then he will only come near again "if ever" we realize our wrongs and ask Him to forgive and restore that vertical relationship. If we do not come to that point in our lives, then we are lukewarm, carnal Christians.
Sadly, that's where most Christians are today (and I'm often guilty). We are the worst advocates for the love and grace of Jesus in the world. People are not always turned off by the message of redemption that Jesus offers, but rather by the people who have believed in that message and then refused to carry out their part of the relationship. It doesn't by any means change the fact that they're going to Heaven, but it means that they have placed their own selfish lifestyle ahead of the Life that Jesus gave up for them. He offers relationship. Relationships are contracts of two parties. How much sense does it make to accept the Gift offered by God, and then decide you don't want to carry out your part of the deal? In law, it's called a breach of contract, and it's not legal. Christ offers rescue from the Kingdom of Darkness and transfer to the Kingdom of Light, and we have to do nothing for it. All He asks after that transfer is some commitment on our part. I'd say that it's the very least we owe someone who died in our place. Sometimes, all we can do is hold up a mirror and say, "Lord, I've got nothing to offer you. I'm a poor wretch who succeeds much less than I fail. BUT, I know that You are faithful, just, merciful, true, holy, righteous, omnipotent, omniscient, full of unfailing love, redemptive, glorious, forgiving, and your list of attributes stretches on till infinity. Only when I make an effort to love and cherish the relationship You offer to me will my life make any sense."
5/11/08
Mother's Day
The feelings I experience on Mother's Day teach me so much more about love than anything I've ever seen on Valentine's Day. Love itself is not something people do together (i.e. sex, giving gifts, eating at Golden Corral or some other fancy restaurant), but is rather all about the sacrifices that we make for those we care deeply for. "Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." That's why I have learned so much about love from my mom (and my dad, but it's not his day today). She has made sacrifices for me every day of her life. Por ejemplo, she walked around for more than nine months (i was two weeks late), looking somewhat like a blimp (i was almost ten pounds) just so that I could live on this earth. That may or may not be funny to you, but in all seriousness, i believe that the process of pregnancy can explain alot about love and why my mom's is so strong. Think about it, for nine months the mom is sharing everything she eats, everything she drinks, and everything she breathes with that little human inside her. It involves sacrifice. Sharing had to have been one of the first--if not the first-- sacrifices made after the Fall. "I have such and such in my possession, and I see that you don't. I'm going to choose to give away some of what I have so that you won't be lacking anymore." There it is, Sharing. Sacrifice. And therefore, Love.
Maybe a simple poem is in order.
The love of a mother
So Constant, Strong and Sweet
No hoarding, she gives up herself
And she does not keep
Mary watched in anguish
Her son hung on the tree
She had loved Him
The Sacrifice for her, you, and me
"So what is Love?
I have no mom!", you cried
Love is Jesus, who never fails
For us, He took three nails and was crucified
Happy Mother's Day!!!
Maybe a simple poem is in order.
The love of a mother
So Constant, Strong and Sweet
No hoarding, she gives up herself
And she does not keep
Mary watched in anguish
Her son hung on the tree
She had loved Him
The Sacrifice for her, you, and me
"So what is Love?
I have no mom!", you cried
Love is Jesus, who never fails
For us, He took three nails and was crucified
Happy Mother's Day!!!
5/10/08
i worked outside with my dad today fixing some things around the house. i also got my mom's Mother's day present. My parents are awesome, my favorite two people in this world. "Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the LORD your God is giving you." ~Deut. 5:16
So, my older sister is halfway around the world right now teaching English at a university in Mongolia, near the Kazakhstan border. About two or three weeks ago there was a really bad dust storm in the city that she lives in, and the power went out. Original estimates said that it could easily be out 6 weeks, and it wouldn't be a surprise to see it out even longer. Well, the power came back on yesterday. I am going to go ahead and tell you that I know that God had a huge hand in that. You may say I'm ridiculous, but I'll explain why I'm so confident: Mongolia is still recovering from Soviet rule. If you know anything about communism or socialism, neither one has ever heard of efficiency. They both go completely against almost every economically sound principle known to man. But I digress. What I'm trying to say is that power would never be restored in less time than they would have originally estimated. You may say, "Korver, don't you think you're stretching it a little?" No. Open your eyes to the world around you. Life doesn't always have pragmatic, scientific answers to our questions. There may be pragmatic, scientific explanations to our questions (and even they are not always existent), but explanations never got anything done. Here's a tough one for you: Meteorologists could talk for an hour on how the cyclone formed and devastated Myanmar, but I defy you to find anyone who could answer why it happened. Another example on the other end of the spectrum: Historians will go till they're blue in the face on how we somehow pulled off the American Revolution. But why was America born?
I am not asking illegitimate questions. I am asking why. No one seems to ask that anymore. Perhaps because the only way to find truth to that question is to think. To search. Have we forgotten how to do that?
So, my older sister is halfway around the world right now teaching English at a university in Mongolia, near the Kazakhstan border. About two or three weeks ago there was a really bad dust storm in the city that she lives in, and the power went out. Original estimates said that it could easily be out 6 weeks, and it wouldn't be a surprise to see it out even longer. Well, the power came back on yesterday. I am going to go ahead and tell you that I know that God had a huge hand in that. You may say I'm ridiculous, but I'll explain why I'm so confident: Mongolia is still recovering from Soviet rule. If you know anything about communism or socialism, neither one has ever heard of efficiency. They both go completely against almost every economically sound principle known to man. But I digress. What I'm trying to say is that power would never be restored in less time than they would have originally estimated. You may say, "Korver, don't you think you're stretching it a little?" No. Open your eyes to the world around you. Life doesn't always have pragmatic, scientific answers to our questions. There may be pragmatic, scientific explanations to our questions (and even they are not always existent), but explanations never got anything done. Here's a tough one for you: Meteorologists could talk for an hour on how the cyclone formed and devastated Myanmar, but I defy you to find anyone who could answer why it happened. Another example on the other end of the spectrum: Historians will go till they're blue in the face on how we somehow pulled off the American Revolution. But why was America born?
I am not asking illegitimate questions. I am asking why. No one seems to ask that anymore. Perhaps because the only way to find truth to that question is to think. To search. Have we forgotten how to do that?
"Tomorrow will worry about itself."
I have always been the type of person who thinks a lot about the future, anticipates it, often worries about it. I don't think there's anything wrong with being someone who looks forward; in fact, the Bible says to "keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come." If you happen to be one of those people in this world who calls yourself a Christian, then it's obvious you're supposed to be ready for the imminent (any time) return of our Savior. Personally, I don't want to be cussing someone out on the basketball court right at the time Jesus comes back. Actually there's plenty of things I wouldn't want to be doing, so looking forward to that day (regardless of the date) not only gives me inspiration to do right, but incentive not to do wrong.
However, as important as that point is--and someday I'll come back to it--it's not the point that I want to make. I love to read, and since it's summer, I've picked up a few books, one of which is about the David of the Bible (you know, the guy who killed Goliath). Tonight as I was reading, I came across an interesting point that the author Chuck Swindoll made. It was simply this: ultimately, how awesome is it that we don't know what tomorrow or next week or next year has in store for us? In David's life, he had just killed Goliath, essentially saving the nation of Israel from captivity under the Philistines, and then Saul, the king, decides he wants to kill David. Not even a "hey Dave, thanks for saving my kingdom with one swing of your sling." But all kidding aside, he goes from a position of prominence and prosperity to fear and depression just like that. And he was in that valley of life for years. Something tells me that David was really glad that he didn't know about that future. If he had, he wouldn't have enjoyed each present day as it came along, and we probably wouldn't even know who he was. Another example that has hit home to me recently is that one of my own peers has cancer. I promise that she did not want to know about that ahead of time. Why would she? Instead, she must take it day by day, moment by moment, fighting with all her strength to beat it. Just like David. Saul eventually killed himself in battle, and after years of living one day to the next, he was king of Israel. I hope and pray that my friend will make the same recovery.
Where am I going with this? Basically, two things. First of all, I need to stop worrying so much about the future. Matthew said "Who of you by worrying has added a single cubit to his height?" (On a side note, maybe my worrying is what caused me to stop growing in between 8th and 9th grade?) Over and over in my life, I catch myself worrying about paying for this or feeling that way, or being perceived by so and so, etc. Even more disappointing is that the things I worry about are almost never things that matter in the long run anyways. Secondly, tomorrow can deal with itself. Sure I can prepare for what tomorrow may bring, but in the end that is all I can do. Live today fully. A great man named Jim Elliot once said, "Wherever you are, be all there. Live to the hilt every situation you believe to be the will of God." In other words, wanting to know the future is fruitless when you come right down to it. Instead, concentrate on living the now so that you may be ready for that unknown day when it comes.
I have something that's heavy on my mind right now that concerns something down the road. It's very important to me, and I'm having a hard time not worrying about it and just preparing myself so that whatever the outcome may be, I can take it in stride. So, if you are the kind of person who prays, pray for me on that one. I need it. If you don't pray, then I don't hold it against you. Whether you pray or not, whether you have faith in the redemptive power of Jesus or not, please let's just live this day.
However, as important as that point is--and someday I'll come back to it--it's not the point that I want to make. I love to read, and since it's summer, I've picked up a few books, one of which is about the David of the Bible (you know, the guy who killed Goliath). Tonight as I was reading, I came across an interesting point that the author Chuck Swindoll made. It was simply this: ultimately, how awesome is it that we don't know what tomorrow or next week or next year has in store for us? In David's life, he had just killed Goliath, essentially saving the nation of Israel from captivity under the Philistines, and then Saul, the king, decides he wants to kill David. Not even a "hey Dave, thanks for saving my kingdom with one swing of your sling." But all kidding aside, he goes from a position of prominence and prosperity to fear and depression just like that. And he was in that valley of life for years. Something tells me that David was really glad that he didn't know about that future. If he had, he wouldn't have enjoyed each present day as it came along, and we probably wouldn't even know who he was. Another example that has hit home to me recently is that one of my own peers has cancer. I promise that she did not want to know about that ahead of time. Why would she? Instead, she must take it day by day, moment by moment, fighting with all her strength to beat it. Just like David. Saul eventually killed himself in battle, and after years of living one day to the next, he was king of Israel. I hope and pray that my friend will make the same recovery.
Where am I going with this? Basically, two things. First of all, I need to stop worrying so much about the future. Matthew said "Who of you by worrying has added a single cubit to his height?" (On a side note, maybe my worrying is what caused me to stop growing in between 8th and 9th grade?) Over and over in my life, I catch myself worrying about paying for this or feeling that way, or being perceived by so and so, etc. Even more disappointing is that the things I worry about are almost never things that matter in the long run anyways. Secondly, tomorrow can deal with itself. Sure I can prepare for what tomorrow may bring, but in the end that is all I can do. Live today fully. A great man named Jim Elliot once said, "Wherever you are, be all there. Live to the hilt every situation you believe to be the will of God." In other words, wanting to know the future is fruitless when you come right down to it. Instead, concentrate on living the now so that you may be ready for that unknown day when it comes.
I have something that's heavy on my mind right now that concerns something down the road. It's very important to me, and I'm having a hard time not worrying about it and just preparing myself so that whatever the outcome may be, I can take it in stride. So, if you are the kind of person who prays, pray for me on that one. I need it. If you don't pray, then I don't hold it against you. Whether you pray or not, whether you have faith in the redemptive power of Jesus or not, please let's just live this day.
5/8/08
summer
I drove home from school today, and the whole way home i did a ton of thinking. thinking about what's in store for the summer, how my semester ended, how crazy it is that a sinless Savior would willfully die for sinful people. Concerning the latter, sadly i find myself losing sight of that foundational premise on which my professed beliefs solely rest. I can feel a lot of changes around the corner in my life, and i can't afford to do that any longer. to continue to do so would be detrimental.
This whole blog deal is sort of spur of the moment. I guess that my reasoning for starting is this: i have grown more and more weary of useless words and conversations that i have throughout the course of my life, and this is a way for me to spill my guts about what really matters to me. Without interruption and without reservation. Furthermore, it is my hope that whatever is written down here--whether journaling or songs or poems i've written, or what have you--that it would all be edifying to whoever may read it, and would bring glory to my Creator. I'm not trying to change anyone, because i lack the power to do so, but it is my hope that you'd at least think about the things that you read.
This whole blog deal is sort of spur of the moment. I guess that my reasoning for starting is this: i have grown more and more weary of useless words and conversations that i have throughout the course of my life, and this is a way for me to spill my guts about what really matters to me. Without interruption and without reservation. Furthermore, it is my hope that whatever is written down here--whether journaling or songs or poems i've written, or what have you--that it would all be edifying to whoever may read it, and would bring glory to my Creator. I'm not trying to change anyone, because i lack the power to do so, but it is my hope that you'd at least think about the things that you read.
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